MethodsThe study aims to provide an initial assessment of maize stoveruse and associated trade-offs based on 12 farmer group/communitysurveys in the three case study regions. The authors selected fourrepresentative communities in each of the three regions – includinga relatively poor and a relatively rich community and two relativelymedium-income communities. The site selection process includedconsultation with researchers from the National Institute of Agri-cultural, Forestry and Fisheries Research (INIFAP) and from theState of Mexico Autonomous University. It also builds on currentand past relevant studies conducted in Mexico (Erenstein, 1999;Bellon et al., 2005).All selected communities were ejidos: agrarian communitiescreated by land distribution through the post-revolutionary agrar-ian reform (1917–1992). The choice of ejidos reflects a number of